Chris Christie criticized for blizzard vacations

By
Rachel Weiner

As New Jersey crawls out from under piles of snow (check out this great time-lapse video), it's being helped not by Gov. Chris Christie or Lt. Gov Kim Guadagno but by Senate President and acting governor Stephen M. Sweeney, a Democrat. Why? Because the state's two top executives skipped town before the storm hit. (Christie is at Disney World in Florida; Guadagno is in Mexico.)

"We clearly made a mistake if we created the office of lieutenant governor and wasted money if the lieutenant governor is not going to be here when the governor is out of state," said Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), himself in Florida. "It's being handled very well by Sen. Sweeney, but you have to really question the purpose of the office."

"If my e-mail is any indication, Kim Guadagno's career is over," said one columnist (who also complained of frozen coffee and frozen beer). "Doesn't this woman have any idea what we're paying her for?"

"It's a big snow, definitely, but the world is not coming to an end," a Christie spokesman told the Star-Ledger. "We are a northeastern state and we get snow -- sometimes lots of it like this -- and we will get through it just as we always do." He also pointed out that Guadagno was already being paid for her other job as secretary of state.

"I was in shock. There was no way in the world I thought they would let that happen. I'm sure whoever did the scheduling had a heart attack," Sweeney said. But he promised he wouldn't take advantage of the situation. "[Christie] was elected to govern the state, and I would never disrespect his office by playing games while he was away," the acting governor said. "He deserves a vacation as well."

No real journalist would compare the recent snow storm to Hurricane Katrina. That hurricane killed thousands and caused billions in damage to New Orleans and the surrounding area. The comparison of the two storms is terribly disrespectful to the families of the victims of Katrina and to the survivors.

These statements have to be coming from left wing elements in the Democrat party or perhaps from the Teachers' Union. The union has tried praying for the Governor to die, so comparing a little snow to the tragedy of Katrina would be just like them.

Here's what you people don't seem to get: Republicans/conservatives/right wing/tea party/Obama haters flock to the blogs and message boards every time it is reported that President Obama is taking a vacation to spend time with his family. According to some of you President Obama should never ever take a vacation. He should be in the White House 24/7 running the country. Oh but then again you very same people don't want him in the White House running the country. Now you very same people are flocking to these same boards justifying Governor Christie going on vacation and leaving his state to THIRD in charge just so he can spend time with his family. Somehow you people seem to think a Governor in charge of only one state is somehow more deserving to enjoy time off to be with his family but the President of ALL of the United States is undeserving. Don't you all see something wrong with this?

Christie and his equally worthless sidekick proved what most people in NJ already knew. These two are only about destruction of the quality of life for the citizens, as they represent only the rich. They would say let them eat cake, except that Christie stole it all. This blowhard has just further exposed himself.

A couple weeks ago the New York Giants got stuck in Kansas City on Saturday night because of a snow storm in Minnesota, which made me wonder...don't those people know about the internet? Weather reports were very clear that a big storm was coming, but they wait till Saturday to travel?

This sorry episode with Christie made me wonder the same thing...hasn't he ever heard of the internet (or the weather channel)? If so, and he knew a big storm was coming yet left anyway, he abdicated his responsibility and deserves the full wrath of his scorned electorate.

And if he didn't know, he's ignorant and incompetent, and deserves the full wrath of his scorned electorate.

A couple weeks ago the New York Giants got stuck in Kansas City on Saturday night because of a snow storm in Minnesota, which made me wonder...don't those people know about the internet? Weather reports were very clear that a big storm was coming, but they wait till Saturday to travel?

This sorry episode with Christie made me wonder the same thing...hasn't he ever heard of the internet (or the weather channel)? If so, and he knew a big storm was coming yet left anyway, he abdicated his responsibility and deserves the full wrath of his scorned electorate.

And if he didn't know, he's ignorant and incompetent, and deserves the full wrath of his scorned electorate.

Oh yeah - the ample Governor Christie just LUVS things Chinese . . . like Roast Pork with Mushrooms and Three Kinds of Meat Spicy and Egg Foo Yung and Chicken with Oyster Sauce and Lobster with Crab Sauce and Singapore Noodles and Kung Pao Beef with Peanuts and Double Sauteed Roast Pork and Pork with Shrimp Fried Rice - the list goes on and on and on.

Holy cr*p, what's the problem? That DC yahoo we have in the WH went to Hawaii with a way larger entourage costing us a ton of money in a cr*ppy economy. Christie and the LtGov are not the ones driving the plows or shoveling snow - if you have a management team responsible for that, you can monitor the situation from Florida.

I cannot believe that this is a topic the media focuses on. The media is so out of control.... there is only one reason for this story... to degrade the politician. Now normally... I'm all about calling out politicians... I basically consider them to be white collard criminals in most cases....but to jump down their throat for a snow storm... is kinda idiotic. If their vacation was already planned... and the snow storm was not... how can one possibly hold the politician responsible?? Will that snow magically remove itself as a result of the politician being in his office?? I cant believe the waste of time it took to write this story. You at the media need to get a life. Your a bit petty.

Democrats, Liberals, Leftists, etc. are always complaining about Conservatives. What's new about that... and furthermore, who cares? We've already started retaking this country. We're not going to allow Obama and his fellow-socialists to turn this nation into a socialist dictatorship. There will be street fighting before that happens. Oh, yes! It will happen if you leftist think you're going to force your sick agenda on us! Please don't bother to respond to this. First of all, I don't care, and second of all, I'm too busy to read your trash. I need to get back to my Chinese lessons.

Love how these dumb Republicans rise to the defense of one of their own when their incompetence is showing. In the grand tradition of Republicans, if it involves real Joes trying to get to work or make ends meet, they just don't give a damn. Christie has once again been exposed as the pompous ass that he is and incompetent to boot. Management 101 is that you and your deputy/immediate subordinate stagger vacations. He apparently was at the Krispy Kreme during that lecture. Hey, NJ--want to get that snow removed? Call Christie and tell em 30 inches of vanilla ice cream fell on the State and there's a spoon waiting for him at the airport.

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I have lived in NJ for over a decade, through several major storms, some worse then what we just had. This has been the worst cleanup I have ever seen. While I'm sure some of it was due to blowing snow (6 hours after clearing my driveway both our cars were in snow drifts up to the bumpers), the roads today, over 24 hours after the storm ended were horrible. Highways still have exits (or jughandles for highways with traffic lights like route 1 or 9) that a plow hasn't even touched. My cousin lives on a street that hasn't seen a plow since last winter. My street, which is usually plowed a foot or so from the curb on both sides has packed in snow banks of 3-4 feet on each side, with barely enough room for cars to pass (I guess I'm lucky). I spoke with some neighbors who have lived here longer (and of course seen even more storms) who say that they have never seen the roads so bad so long after a storm ended.

This is NJ. We get a lot of snow and expect to get on our buses and trains or in our cars to drive less then 24 hours after a storm ends but there are many people still stuck in their homes over 36 hours later. Many suspect that the budget cuts Christie has implemented on state workers and towns is behind this and for that he may pay at the polls. If people can't get to work to earn money to pay our high property taxes something is wrong and someone has to answer. Just as Mayor Bloomberg is taking flak for NYC's poor cleanup, so will Gov. Christie, even though it is mostly towns that do the cleaning up.

But getting back to the question should the Governor have come home: that is a political question. The Governor doesn't shovel (unlike Newark's mayor) and aside from press conferences, probably couldn't have done much to change the situation. That Christie is not here to get ahead of the story and possible defend himself (ex: blowing snow causing plows to redo roads and thus causing a delay in clearing local roads would have been an acceptable excuse) was a poor political move that people will remember. Voters aren't going to think tax cuts, they are going to think they couldn't get to work due to poor snow removal. Mayors have fallen, or come close to it, for this in many northern cities over the decades. Revenge is a dish best served cold and it was very cold in my driveway as I shoveled a path to the street (hooray for the neighbor with the massive snow blower who helped several of us out).

How totally outrageous. If I was the governor, I would have flew back, and followed all the snow plow trucks around and screamed orders at them to make sure they did not miss spots, darn it, i would have been in the middle of the interstates. The decisions of which roads to keep open and closed, when to dispatch more trucks, THESE ARE EXECUTIVE DECISIONS. The nerve of these people to not fly back, you bloggers and citizens, tell them the way it should be, you all know best.

Give me a break - What is the governor going to do that the acting governor can't? Politically, it looks bad but the governor appointed department heads to run the various departments. They should be competent enough to handle a snow storm.

I will say though the Lt. Governor and the Governor should have planned their vacations so as to ensure that at least one them is available at all times. God forbid a more serious incident occurred requiring the decision making authority of the Governor or Lt. Governor.

Most of the people complaining about the Governor jetting off to Florida are upset at the perceived disrespect shown to the average citizens of the state. But the truth of the matter is that most residents of New Jersey do not deserve the respect of their betters, and men like Christie should be proud of their wealth and their ability to avoid responsibility. In point of fact, many New Jersians are deserving of outright contempt by the upper classes. People that don’t have the good sense to earn enough money so that they have the ability to fly off to warmer climes when a major nor’easter is threatening, have no business troubling the councils of the mighty with their constant simpering and whining. The folks from New Jersey that I have had the distinct displeasure to meet were mostly contemptible gutter snipes who wouldn’t know which fork to eat a salad with and which fork to use for a fish course. In fact, many of these uncouth Joe Lunchbuckets have dirt under their fingernails and calluses on their hands. (Imagine, in this day and age!) I don’t blame the Governor for traveling to Florida to be with “his” people. It would serve New Jersey right if he never came back to take up residence once again in Toad Hall, the traditional seat of the Christie family. On this matter, I stand firmly with the governor; People of New Jersey, get stuffed!

OK so Christie had the gall to take a few days off and scheduled a vacation in warmer climes. I give him points for judgement in deciding it might be a bit warmer in Miami than in Trenton.

Where he and the new Lt. Governor slipped up is in not having a contingency plan in place which requires one or the other to be in place at all times. It is not unusual for any business where the CEO and COO have decision making authority to have such a policy and I would sugges one of Governor Christie's first orders of business once he returns and digs out is to implement such a plan.

And,just read some of the posts on this blog; Christie is being blamed for the weather, for the audacity to take a few days off and for not getting on the first plate to fly back into the storm (as if any planes were landing at either Newark or Philadelphia by Monday PM). I will bet the next thing he is blamed for is the postponement of the Eagles-Vikings game.

Come on people, this is New Jersey. Fuggetaboutit and move on like most of the residents of the Garden State will.

Yes lindalovejones, the Governor can get on the phone and "order up anything" from Trenton or from Florida - as he frequently does. But the ample Governor can scream all day and night into the phone from Trenton and he's just not going to eat at Joe's Stone Crab. He definitely did the right thing flying down to Florida as the blizzard flew in. What a yummy vacation opportunity.

Ok, someone needs to tell what a governor (or a president) does when it snows heavily (this is only a blizzard if (defination from wiki):

"To be a blizzard, a snow storm must have winds in excess of 56 km/h (35 mph).[1] Additionally, blizzards must reduce visibility to 400 meters (1,300 ft) or less and must last for a prolonged period of time — typically three hours or more"

Once it stops all you have is heavy snowfall.

My understanding is that neither governors nor presidents can declare snow emergencies--only townships, counties, towns, cities and transportation management, such a VDOT can make such calls...so why would the governor be needed in person?

Last Christmas is snowed 15 inches in north Texas; we all complained about not be alerted early enough not to be caught on the hwys... people were stranded in their cars and truckers in big rigs because we have NO snow equipment at all. We complained to Txdot and to our county and city management. Not to the Governors office. And certainly not to the White House.

This whole argument is laughable--like teens saying they were given the responsibility to take care of the house when they were left alone and all they wanted was to be left alone---not actually be responsible too.

This has nothing to do with politics except in the big picture; it appears from this comment section, progressives can't be left alone when it snows as they don't know what to do or who to call. And conservatives will not go out and help their neighbors who are progressives and don't own shovels....this is a hoot, WAPO, what a tempest in a very little tea pot.

Moronic article; moronic partisan comments. News flash, people, it snows in New Jersey! I recognize some of the posters who are criticizing Christie. They're the same posters who have defended Obama during his questionably timed vacations. I doubt that this article would have been written or the ridiculous comments would have been made if Christie had a "D" next to his name.

Who would begrudge the ample Governor from enjoying the irresistible attractions at DisneyWorld?

After all, there's the Mexican restaurants and the American diners and the many cafe's and the French bistro's and the British Pub Grub and the Norwegian kitchen and the various burger bars and the hot-dog stands and the Sushi bars and the fried ice cream and the many Italian eateries and the sugar coated fried dough and the French-fries and the roasted turkey legs and the chicken wings and the all-you-can-eat seafood buffet and the aged steaks and the breakfast buffet's and the . . . well everything you could want except those useless salad bars.

Look, Republicans believe that Government is never the answer to any problem, so Governor Christie would have been just as ineffective in New Jersey as he would be in Florida. And if the people of New Jersey are in such a hurry to have their streets plowed by the Socialist Department of Public Works, or to have their elderly fathers rushed to the hospital in the “People’s Ambulance” then they should get their lazy, communist backsides out into the road with shovels of their own. It’s not Governor Christie’s job to help with natural disasters. It’s his job to cut taxes for millionaires. That’s what he was elected for, and that’s what he’s going to do.

Republicans as a party never seem to care about disasters that hurt "the little People". Remember Bush taking five days to acknowledge Katrina? He flew over the disaster and offered nothing but rhetoric after that.Seems Governor Christie has learned well at the knee of his hero George Bush.

If he wants to be re-elected again he should cancel all vacations involving state emergencies! & he & his Lt. Gov. shouldn't be going out of town at the same time in case something like this happens! They could end up having a bozo in charge (remember Alexander Haig taking over [?] when Pres. Reagan got shot almost 30 years ago! )!

While I don't think the governor being away during a major storm is of any consequence, the governor doesn't get out and shovel the state's roads and sidewalks and doesn't oversee clean up operations directly. I do think if the state just created the office of lt. governor to take charge if something happens to the governor, it should have included a provision that while one of the two officials is away on business for the state or on vacation, the other one stays home.

While I don't think the governor being away during a major storm is of any consequence, the governor doesn't get out and shovel the state's roads and sidewalks and doesn't oversee clean up operations directly. I do think if the state just created the office of lt. governor to take charge if something happens to the governor, it should have included a provision that while one of the two officials is away on business for the state or on vacation, the other one stays home.

Hello to all, you are entitled to your own opinions, but and I quote " you are not entitled to your own facts."
Stop the partisan rhetoric, do your homework before posting a comment; many continue to be uninformed thus becoming victims of those who make their living misinforming the American people.
Come on folks, we have had worse blizzards in the past and here we are bickering about who took a vacation.
Let's worry about our country, be more concerned about the Congress of the USA (House and the Senate) in it's entirety, let's hold them ALL to an higher scrutiny, rather than to allow them to treat us like sheep, let us say to them we will no longer longer follow you snake oil salesmen; if you cannot deliver the goods, then it's time for you to go.
We do not need Democrats and or Republicans, we need patriots who are going to put America FIRST.

Hello to all, you are entitled to your own opinions, but and I quote " you are not entitled to your own facts."
Stop the partisan rhetoric, do your homework before posting a comment; many continue to be uninformed thus becoming victims of those who make their living misinforming the American people.
Come on folks, we have had worse blizzards in the past and here we are bickering about who took a vacation.
Let's worry about our country, be more concerned about the Congress of the USA (House and the Senate) in it's entirety, let's hold them ALL to an higher scrutiny, rather than to allow them to treat us like sheep, let us say to them we will no longer longer follow you snake oil salesmen; if you cannot deliver the goods, then it's time for you to go.
We do not need Democrats and or Republicans, we need patriots who are going to put America FIRST.

Hello to all, you are entitled to your own opinions, but and I quote " you are not entitled to your own facts."
Stop the partisan rhetoric, do your homework before posting a comment; many continue to be uninformed thus becoming victims of those who make their living misinforming the American people.
Come on folks, we have had worse blizzards in the past and here we are bickering about who took a vacation.
Let's worry about our country, be more concerned about the Congress of the USA (House and the Senate) in it's entirety, let's hold them ALL to an higher scrutiny, rather than to allow them to treat us like sheep, let us say to them we will no longer longer follow you snake oil salesmen; if you cannot deliver the goods, then it's time for you to go.
We do not need Democrats and or Republicans, we need patriots who are going to put America FIRST.

One thing is perfectly clear about Republicans: They don't know right from wrong.

All Republicans know are 2 things: Are you a Republican, or are you a Democrat.

Republicans can lie their arses off, steal money, lie us into war, run up the deficit, enjoy their homosexuality, covet either other's wives, you name it, so long as there's an (R) after their name it's all ok with Republicans.

Then there are Democrats (in the Republicans' view): Democrats can clean up the mess Republicans leave behind, keep our water and our air clean, make sure the poor and elderly are fed, keep Social Security solvent, anything and everything that the American People need to have a good and healthy life, and but for no other reason than there's a (D) behind their name, the Republicans have a furious, undying hatred.

While vacationing there, Gov. Crisco cut Sneezy, Grumpy and Bashful's prescription drug benefits and Sleepy's unemployment, ended Dopey's state-funded shuttle bus program, and lobbied for a liability cap on suing Doc. Then he looked at Happy, figured he must be up to something, and had him detained in Disneyland Jail. Then he ate Snow White because he's, y'know, a big fat fattie from Fat Lee, NJ.

Give the guy a break. Vacations are planned weeks or even months in advance. Who knew there would be a blizzard. Weathermen are right even less often than politicians. What was he supposed to do? All three airports were closed. He couldn't get back if he wanted to. It does beg the question why the Lieutenant Governor was on vacation at the same time. I thought that was the idea of creating the position. Keyport, NJ

This boils down to dem mentality. Leave it to the WaPo, probably with Soros money, to criticize Christie for taking a well deserved vacation while our oft vacationing (campaigning) pres goes to Hawaii leaving the USA in a snow fall!!! Why is it ok for Obama but not for Christie?

You liberal yankees tickle me to death. You want the government to shovel the snow on your sidewalks. You are pitiful. You are the reason this nation is on the brink of bankruptcy.
Why don't you move to Florida so you don't get snow?
I hope the new congress eliminates about half of the government programs that you currently enjoy. You need to learn to take care of yourself, like your grandfathers did. Grow up!!!
Posted by: bamabug | December 28, 2010 3:10 PM

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You conservative southerners tickle me to death. You want the government to clean the oil off your beaches and wetlands and rescue you from hurricaines. You are pitiful. You are the reason this nation is on the brink of bankruptcy.
Why don't you move to Minnesota so you don't get oil spills and hurricaines? I hope the new congress eliminates about half of the government programs that you currently enjoy. You need to learn to take care of yourself, like your grandfathers did. Grow up!!!

This boils down to dem mentality. Leave it to the WaPo, probably with Soros money, to criticize Christie for taking a well deserved vacation while our oft vacationing (campaigning) pres goes to Hawaii leaving the USA in a snow fall!!! Why is it ok for Obama but not for Christie?

kalifani6, the truth about Obama hurts, doesn't it? But being the good little marxist you are, you won't let a few irritating little facts get in the way. The nation is involved in two wars your guy promised to end, unemployment is still hovering around 10%, housing is still in the toilet, and the deficit is the highest it's ever been in the nation's history. But we now have gays and lesbians free to serve in the military. After achieving (or not achieving) all that, Obama takes off on another vacation in Hawaii. Of course, New Jersey's problems are mostly snow related meaning Christie only qualifies for a vacation to Florida instead of Hawaii. Following Obama's line of thought, Christie should drive New Jersey deeper in the hole, completely destroy public education in the state, ignore underfunded pensions, etc. in order to "qualify" for a nice tax payer funded vacation in sunny Hawaii.

Posted by: panamajack | December 28, 2010 2:48 PM | Report abuse

BOTH WARS WERE STARTED BY REPUBLICANS WHO RAN AWAY AND HID WHEN THEY GOT BIG.

UNIVERSAL HOUSING WAS A GEORGE BUSH HUSTLE.

UNEMPLOYMENT IS DUE REPUBLICAN POLICIES OF OFF-SHORING AND FEED THE THEIVING BANKS.

UNDER-FUNDED PENSIONS IS COMPLRTELY DUE TO THAT THEIF, CTRISTIE TODD WHITMAN- A REPUBLICAN- WHO SOLD NJ's FUTUTE DOWN THE RIVER- WHILE HER HUGE ESTATE WAS TAXED AT A WHOPPING $45 PER YEAR. NOT PER ACRE OR INCH, PER PEAR!!!

CHRISTIE IS AS SLIMY, LYING, THEIVING, STUPID LARD BUCKET WHO IS DODGING DRIVING VIOLATIONS ALL OVER THE STATE IN SEARCH OF ANOTHER FREE MEAL- WHEN HE'S NOT SCREWING UP ALLOCATIONS OF FEDERAL MONET TO NJ BY THE HUNDREDS OF BILLIONS.

BE GLAD YOU'RE IN PANAMA, JACK?

HOW MUCH IS HIS BROTHER GETTING FRON THE GUTTING OF THE TUNNEL?
WHAT DID HIS COMPANY GAIN BY SCREWING NEW JERSEY COMMUTERS?

FOLLOW THE MONEY....

MARXISTS DON'T FEAR THE FACTS, BUT THEY MAKE REPUBLICAN SCUM AND THEIR OWNER NERVOUS.

Have you checked the weather in Florida lately? We're freezing our butts off down here. OK, it's not snowing, but imagine having blown your annual vacation money on a beachfront condo, only to be shivering in your overcoat. I mean it was 35 in Miami yesterday! Some Florida vacation.

You liberal yankees tickle me to death. You want the government to shovel the snow on your sidewalks. You are pitiful. You are the reason this nation is on the brink of bankruptcy.
Why don't you move to Florida so you don't get snow?
I hope the new congress eliminates about half of the government programs that you currently enjoy. You need to learn to take care of yourself, like your grandfathers did. Grow up!!!

Everytime Obama goes on vacation, which has been a fraction of what Bush did, Christie always makes some smartazz remark about it. He's hardly a contender for 2012. People in his own state hate him for canceling the tunnel which NJ was only going to pay a fraction of. Christie is all blow and no show.

"We clearly made a mistake if we created the office of lieutenant governor and wasted money if the lieutenant governor is not going to be here when the governor is out of state," said Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union), himself in Florida.

WOW, talk about hubris!
Not only does Lesniak condemn Christie for vacationing WHILE ON VACATION, but he can't even get his facts right (in NJ, "Lt. Gov" is an unpaid title).
Great job, Ray...(what a MORON)!

NJ gets one or two blizzards like this almost every year. This wasn't an attack, it wasn't a hurricane... & it's not really all that unusual. Does it present some challenges? Sure. But does it mean the gov needs to come running to the (symbolic) rescue? Bah!

That said, Christie & Guadagno do need to coordinate their schedules a bit better, so that they aren't both on vacation at the same time. That would seem to be a job for Christie's chief of staff, Rich Bagger.

"I find it hard to believe that all you DC area wimps even understand the term Snow Emergency. It snows in NJ. Always has and always will. Trust me no-one in NJ is declaring this minor show an emergency."
__________________________________________

Wimps? Look KCID (spell it the other way), we had more snow then that crap hole you call Jersey did last year. Typical arrogant northeasterner. Your state (jersey) sucks.

The coast was hard hit, but the rest of NJ has already dug itself out efficiently. The warm weather predicted for the rest of the week will finish it off.

Christie will be fine. If he had stayed, he could have done what Bloomberg did, and look like a calm leader who stays with his troops. Which is good. But this is just a little missed step. Guadagno, on the other hand, should have returned before her boss left the state. They're paying her for what?

The coast was hard hit, but the rest of NJ has already dug itself out efficiently. The warm weather predicted for the rest of the week will finish it off.

Christie will be fine. If he had stayed, he could have done what Bloomberg did, and look like a calm leader who stays with his troops. Which is good. But this is just a little missed step. Guadagno, on the other hand, should have returned before her boss left the state. They're paying her for what?

The coast was hard hit, but the rest of NJ has already dug itself out efficiently. The warm weather predicted for the rest of the week will finish it off.

Christie will be fine. If he had stayed, he could have done what Bloomberg did, and look like a calm leader who stays with his troops. Which is good. But this is just a little missed step. Guadagno, on the other hand, should have returned before her boss left the state. They're paying her for what?

The coast was hard hit, but the rest of NJ has already dug itself out efficiently. The warm weather predicted for the rest of the week will finish it off.

Christie will be fine. If he had stayed, he could have done what Bloomberg did, and look like a calm leader who stays with his troops. Which is good. But this is just a little missed step. Guadagno, on the other hand, should have returned before her boss left the state. They're paying her for what?

As a citizen of Maryland, I believe that NJ's governor Christie should cut his vacation, like he's cut the salaries of the lower-level gov't workers and vital programs in NJ. Or at least cut it short - like making it a weekend trip. Don't be a hypocrite AND a Republican! (tee-hee, that's impossible)

kalifani6, the truth about Obama hurts, doesn't it? But being the good little marxist you are, you won't let a few irritating little facts get in the way. The nation is involved in two wars your guy promised to end, unemployment is still hovering around 10%, housing is still in the toilet, and the deficit is the highest it's ever been in the nation's history. But we now have gays and lesbians free to serve in the military. After achieving (or not achieving) all that, Obama takes off on another vacation in Hawaii. Of course, New Jersey's problems are mostly snow related meaning Christie only qualifies for a vacation to Florida instead of Hawaii. Following Obama's line of thought, Christie should drive New Jersey deeper in the hole, completely destroy public education in the state, ignore underfunded pensions, etc. in order to "qualify" for a nice tax payer funded vacation in sunny Hawaii.

I find it hard to believe that all you DC area wimps even understand the term Snow Emergency. It snows in NJ. Always has and always will. Trust me no-one in NJ is declaring this minor show an emergency.

This paper is a dem/liberal lovefest. Nothing said here is important just a whine.

both the governor and lt governor should bring their butts back to New Jersey and help dig out their states instead of going on vacation. they need their elected officals to help dig out of the snow they got since sunday and to have neither their show how much they care about their people. i know that both my mayor and governor and Lt. goverrnor in ky would probably be here until the state is out of the snow and helping out the state and probably come from their vacation to help out. that what Christie and Sweeny needs to do instead of being on vacation.

As someone who votes D more often than R, let me say: Hey! it's christmas! Let the guy take a vacation. What's he supposed to do? Personally shovel off the turnpike? Have you seen the guy? Probably have a heart attack on the spot.

The real problem is with the weathermen--they should never have scheduled a big storm during people's vacations.

maybe christie and sweeny should get their butt back to new jersey and take care of the problem. people voted them in to take of problems like this and them taking a vacation instead of being in their state even though they derserved it they should cancel the vacation and help out dig out their state. i know our governor in ky and our mayor here would whether stick around and dig out the state than go on vaation and probably come back to help out the state too. shame on you governor and lt. governor.

maybe christie and sweeny should get their butt back to new jersey and take care of the problem. people voted them in to take of problems like this and them taking a vacation instead of being in their state even though they derserved it they should cancel the vacation and help out dig out their state. i know our governor in ky and our mayor here in ky would whether stick around and dig out the state than go on vaation and probably come back to help out the state too. shame on you governor and lt. governor.

Hey, I can remember back in 1987, when Marion Barry was out in California for the Super Bowl, when the, "Double Whammy Storms," hit DC. The streets were clogged with snow and frozen slush! Barry was out in California, snortin' toot and gettin' hummers from the ladies..........while the city was at a standstill!

The Washington Post mentioned it and some people whined, but, "Captain Crack," was allowed to slide.............

Hey, Marion Barry was out in California for the Super Bowl back in 1987, when DC got hit with the, "Double Whammy," storm. The snow removal crews couldn't function and Barry was out in California, snortin' toot & gettin' hummers from the ladies!

The Washington Post mentioned it, but when DC's Streets were clogged, nobody did a darn thing!

@puck-101 "Yeah, let's all hear how they can criticize Gov. Christie . While the Head Half-Breed is over in Hawaii and when he hasn't been putting us down the toilet with his Marxist Muslim rule, he has been wasting fuel on AFl or playing golf or taking more stitches in his ugly puss by trying to go 1 on 1 with the First Moose. "

Did your mother teach you how to think like that?

That's why I find it hilarious that you nimrods hate to be called out as the racist bigoted sleazes that you are.
And that term "half-breed" is the sleaziest yet.You must be proud.

Another attempt by the WP and the liberal press to discredit a strong , potontential, republican presidential candidate. Pretty weak guys. If I'm not mistaken Obama is on vacation and we have a record deficit and nearly 10% unemployment. Talk about audacity.

This is Christie's "Let them eat cake" moment. A governor SHOULD be in the state when a major emergency is occurring. A major blizzard IS a major emergency. Anyone who says otherwise is full of it.
Christie is an overweight hypocrite who lives by the credo, "Do as I say, not as I do." Has Christie ever paid back the federal taxpayers of this nation by refunding the amount he overbilled the government for travel expenses?

This is Christie's "Let them eat cake" moment. A governor SHOULD be in the state when a major emergency is occurring. A major blizzard IS a major emergency. Anyone who says otherwise is full of it.
Christie is an overweight hypocrite who lives by the credo, "Do as I say, not as I do." Has Christie ever paid back the federal taxpayers of this nation by refunding the amount he overbilled the government for travel expenses?

Yeah , and who is minding the store when all the boobs like Obama, Rottencrotch, Richardson, Kerry, Romney etal were running for the Presidency. And I'll bet they still collected their paychecks while out of the office for 9 months or more . You try it and tell your boss you are runnng for Union President . WEll, come to think of it, if that were the case and it was for the UAW, the Teachers or the SEIU, then he'd stand behind you and you'd get paid and then take a vacation to Hawaii without any penalty, the same as he does.

Yeah, let's all hear how they can criticize Gov. Christie . While the Head Half-Breed is over in Hawaii and when he hasn't been putting us down the toilet with his Marxist Muslim rule, he has been wasting fuel on AFl or playing golf or taking more stitches in his ugly puss by trying to go 1 on 1 with the First Moose.

Excuse me, but as an actual New Jerseyan...and a Democrat...I'd like to say something.

I don't like Christie one bit but he's entitled to vacation. So's Kim Guadagno. No problem there. (With luck, they'll get really long ones in 3 more years.)

What they are NOT entitled to do is go on vacation AT THE SAME TIME. This isn't a Dem or Rep issue...it's simply common sense. How hard is that to figure out?

We didn't have a Lt. Gov before now. When our sleazo ex-Gov had to resign because he put his unqualified significant other on the public payroll (relevant characteristic = unqualified; irrelevant characteristic = gender), we discovered it might be a good idea to have someone around to take over.

Since Gov Christie is spending so much time traipsing around the country telling everyone else about his great governing abilities...but of course, not planning on running for anything else (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)...maybe his assistant and Ms. Guadagno's assistant can get in the habit of checking calendars so one of them can hang around Trenton.

Excuse me, but as an actual New Jerseyan...and a Democrat...I'd like to say something.

I don't like Christie one bit but he's entitled to vacation. So's Kim Guadagno. No problem there. (With luck, they'll get really long ones in 3 more years.)

What they are NOT entitled to do is go on vacation AT THE SAME TIME. This isn't a Dem or Rep issue...it's simply common sense. How hard is that to figure out?

We didn't have a Lt. Gov before now. When our sleazo ex-Gov had to resign because he put his unqualified significant other on the public payroll (relevant characteristic = unqualified; irrelevant characteristic = gender), we discovered it might be a good idea to have someone around to take over.

Since Gov Christie is spending so much time traipsing around the country telling everyone else about his great governing abilities...but of course, not planning on running for anything else (wink, wink, nudge, nudge)...maybe his assistant and Ms. Guadagno's assistant can get in the habit of checking calendars so one of them can hang around Trenton.

Gov. Christie is a blessing to the State of New Jersey. Until he came along, this state had the reputation of being the Chicago of States. Christie is definitly a "swamp cleaner", and he's doing it for the residents of the State of New Jersey. He deserves this well earned vacation. Mr. Governor, sorry that you had such cold weather for your family's vacation down in Florida. We hope that when you come back, that you're well rested, and that you're energized to continue to do the job that the "fed up" people of New Jersey elected you to do. Have a nice vacation.

The petulant republican’s (republicant’s) always demonstrate their irrational rhetoric with others. The Office of the Governor should have harmonized the schedules appropriately to have Guadango available. Bring up past individuals is fool hardy because it not representative of the current situation. Governor Christie should have the comfort of taking time off. He has done a good job so far.

"If my e-mail is any indication, Kim Guadagno's career is over," said one columnist (who also complained of frozen coffee and frozen beer). "Doesn't this woman have any idea what we're paying her for?"

For the record: The residents of NJ are paying Ms. Guadagno to lead the state's Department of State. She is not remunerated for the Lt Gov position. The Lt Gov position was put in place so that we would not have the state's Senate leader indefinitely acting as Gov in cases where the Gov office is vacant.

Get over it. Who cares who signs the order declaring the "state of emergency" during a snowstorm? That's all that's required. This is a lot of hooey over nothing. I hope Christie and Guadagno are enjoying their vacations.

These pols are all about preaching to us about personal responsibility but are lousy at executing it themselves. I just saw Christie on Morning Joe last week aiming his darts at his most favorie and frequent target -- the teacher's union. That man is all over the place, bloviating. The heck he isn't setting himself up for a run at the presidency.

"Guadagno is the state's first lieutenant governor, a position created by a constitutional amendment to fill in for an absent governor. Democrats are now complaining that she isn't pulling her weight."
======================================
How could she?

This is exactly how cowardly the Democrats are here in NJ. It's absolutely disgusting. Where was Ray Lesniak while the Democratic governor of our state was selling out taxpayers to his concubine, who happened to be the President of the union of state workers?

If Governor Christie were a Democrat this paper would not be publishing this story. So really, it is Christie's fault: if you wish to avoid criticism from the leftist editor of the Post, become a Democrat - remember all those stories about Charlie Wrangle? No, I don't either.

i guess lesniak is mad that he had to stay in trenton and shovel the capital`s stairs.this guy is nothing but a two bit phony.when is new jersey going to get wise and vote this guy out of office.i know this governor is doing good work in new jersey,but he cannot predict the weather.

This boils down to dem mentality. Leave it to the WaPo, probably with Soros money, to criticize Christie for taking a well deserved vacation while our oft vacationing (campaigning) pres goes to Hawaii leaving the USA in a snow fall!!! Why is it ok for Obama but not for Christie?

OMG!!! Wow, you people are hilarious. So many of you whine, bi!ch and moan every time the President leaves the White House even though he hasn't taken nearly the amount of vacation as the previous President, but I digress....

Christie is running one state, President Obama is running an entire country. If Christie can't be bothered running the only state he was elected to run then what is the point of being the Governor? And you should know by now that the President is never really on vacation. Everything he needs is available to him. He is briefed everyday and handles a variety of situations as needed. He is in constant contact with everyone he needs to be in contact with. Governor Christie left his state knowing his lieutenant Governor was out of the country. What, the Governor couldn't delay his trip? President Obama did. Oh and by the way, Hawaii is a state. It became a state Aug. 21, 1959

This boils down to dem mentality. Leave it to the WaPo, probably with Soros money, to criticize Christie for taking a well deserved vacation while our oft vacationing (campaigning) pres goes to Hawaii leaving the USA in a snow fall!!! Why is it ok for Obama but not for Christie?

OMG!!! Wow, you people are hilarious. So many of you whine, bi!ch and moan every time the President leaves the White House even though he hasn't taken nearly the amount of vacation as the previous President, but I digress....

Christie is running one state, President Obama is running an entire country. If Christie can't be bothered running the only state he was elected to run then what is the point of being the Governor? And you should know by now that the President is never really on vacation. Everything he needs is available to him. He is briefed everyday and handles a variety of situations as needed. He is in constant contact with everyone he needs to be in contact with. Governor Christie left his state knowing his lieutenant Governor was out of the country. What, the Governor couldn't delay his trip? President Obama did. Oh and by the way, Hawaii is a state. It became a state Aug. 21, 1959

This boils down to dem mentality. Leave it to the WaPo, probably with Soros money, to criticize Christie for taking a well deserved vacation while our oft vacationing (campaigning) pres goes to Hawaii leaving the USA in a snow fall!!! Why is it ok for Obama but not for Christie?

OMG!!! Wow, you people are hilarious. So many of you whine, bi!ch and moan every time the President leaves the White House even though he hasn't taken nearly the amount of vacation as the previous President, but I digress....

Christie is running one state, President Obama is running an entire country. If Christie can't be bothered running the only state he was elected to run then what is the point of being the Governor? And you should know by now that the President is never really on vacation. Everything he needs is available to him. He is briefed everyday and handles a variety of situations as needed. He is in constant contact with everyone he needs to be in contact with. Governor Christie left his state knowing his lieutenant Governor was out of the country. What, the Governor couldn't delay his trip? President Obama did. Oh and by the way, Hawaii is a state. It became a state Aug. 21, 1959

The Lt Gov position was created for just these instances. Christie should have stayed home if he already allowed the Lt Gov to leave the state.
BTW - with so much state aid to municipalities cut by Christie - the local roads are not being plowed, and the state itself slacked horribly on the major roads. Funny to hear all those who scream "cut taxes" now complain about the lack of services.

This boils down to dem mentality. Leave it to the WaPo, probably with Soros money, to criticize Christie for taking a well deserved vacation while our oft vacationing (campaigning) pres goes to Hawaii leaving the USA in a snow fall!!! Why is it ok for Obama but not for Christie?

Christie, being a fiscal hawk, would eliminate the unnecessary position of the Lt. Gov., right?

Not! Christie is an Elephant. By Political Affiliation and by Size (Oh, so many kids dying of hunger and malnutrition in the world!). As the adage goes, an elephant has two sets of teeth. One set is for show only. That's what Christie is.

And Mr. Sweeney. Take advantage of the situation. Play the political game. Dissolve the Government under the State of Emergency and take over.

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